River Cruise Itinerary

Cruise along the River Danube from Budapest to Amsterdam on an amazing journey past grand cathedrals, medieval monasteries, castles and vineyards...Pass through five countries including the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary, and explore legendary cities such as Amsterdam, Vienna, Köln, Nürnberg, Bratislava and Budapest. Tauck's all-included private shore excursions take you to many UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the historic districts of Budapest, Vienna, and Bamberg, and the Wachau and Rhine valleys. In Vienna, take your choice of visits to Schönbrunn Palace or the Sisi Museum at the Hofburg, and attend a grand Imperial Evening in a traditional palace. In Amsterdam, tour the famed Rijksmuseum. Visit Köln Cathedral, Melk Abbey, medieval towns like Regensburg, Budapest's Heroes' Square and much more!

1. Day 1
   Amsterdam, Netherlands

   Sun, Sep 08, 2024

   Tour begins: 5:00 PM, Amsterdam. A transfer is included from Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport or Central Station directly to your riverboat. Enjoy a welcome briefing and a leisurely dinner as you settle into your floating hotel for a memorable two-week-cruise on the Main, Rhine and Danube Rivers.

   
   Meals: Dinner
2. Day 2
   Amsterdam, Netherlands

   Mon, Sep 09, 2024

   Enjoy a tour of Amsterdam this morning that includes a guided visit to the amazing Rijksmuseum where artwork by the Old Dutch Masters includes Rembrandt's The Night Watch, along with masterpieces by Vermeer and more. Hop aboard a canal boat for a luncheon cruise along its 17th century grachten (canals ), gliding beneath curved bridges and past stately merchant homes. Enjoy free time to explore the sights on your own before driving to Nijmegen where your riverboat awaits. Dine at leisure onboard.

   
   Meals: Breakfast
3. Day 3
   Cologne Germany

   Tue, Sep 10, 2024

   After a morning of cruising and lunch aboard the riverboat, your explorations continue in Köln (Cologne), the oldest city in Germany. A guided walking tour of city sights includes a visit to twin-spired Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral), boasting one of the world's largest church façades; it is one of Europe's most beloved Gothic cathedrals. You'll have some free time to wander through Cathedral Square and the Hohe Strasse pedestrian area in the afternoon. Join us tonight for a reception and a chef's signature dinner followed by an onboard performance by local musicians.

   
   Meals: Breakfast
4. Day 4
   Rüdesheim, Germany

   Wed, Sep 11, 2024

   The perfect Rhine cruise... glide along the river until early afternoon, and relax as your Tauck Director shares a tale or two during the cruise through the scenic – and literally legendary – Lorelei Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Arrive in Rüdesheim, where you have a choice of two excursions; on one, an entertaining lunch in a local German restaurant with an old-world ambiance precedes a visit to Siegfrieds Mechanisches Musikkabinett, an eclectic collection of mechanical musical instruments housed in a 15th-century castle in Rüdesheim. On the other, take a bike ride along the banks of the river Rhine. Each choice is followed by free time to enjoy as you wish. Walk back to the ship or ride the mini train. Back aboard the riverboat this evening, enjoy dinner while cruising the Rhine.

   
   Meals: Breakfast
5. Day 5
   Miltenberg Germany

   Thu, Sep 12, 2024

   Enjoy the views as your Rhine cruise continues into the Main River, for a full day of cruising through scenic valleys studded with castles, cathedrals, and fortified towns. Enjoy a Bavarian-themed dinner aboard the riverboat tonight.

   
   Meals: Breakfast
6. Day 6
   Wurzburg, Germany

   Fri, Sep 13, 2024

   Spend the morning cruising and have brunch aboard the riverboat before arriving in Würzburg where you'll have two choices of sightseeing. On one, explore Würzburg's Old Town with a local guide; tour the Residenz (it was built and decorated by an international team of architects, painters, and sculptors); see the ornate Alte Mainbrücke (a bridge over the River Main); and spend some time on your own. Alternatively, depart on an excursion to the nearby town of Rothenburg; nestled on Germany's "Romantic Road," it lives up to its reputation as Europe's "most perfect fairy-tale town." View its Gothic cathedral, towered walls and gabled houses on a walking tour, and enjoy some time at leisure. Both groups will return to the riverboat for dinner aboard ship.

   
   Meals: Breakfast
7. Day 7
   Bamberg, Germany

   Sat, Sep 14, 2024

   Your riverboat cruises along the Main to the Bavarian town of Bamberg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated atop seven hills. You have a choice between discovering the town's lovely gardens, medieval architecture and 13th-century Gothic cathedral with its four imposing towers on a guided walking tour of Old Town (with time afterwards to explore this charming town on your own); or embarking on a bicycling excursion (due to the terrain, this activity is recommended for fit and experienced cyclists only). Enjoy dinner back aboard the riverboat this evening. 

   
   Meals: Breakfast
8. Day 8
   Nürnberg, Germany

   Sun, Sep 15, 2024

   From the center of the German Renaissance in the 15th and 16th centuries to the site of National Socialist Germans Workers' Party conventions leading into World War II, Nuremberg has had a storied history since it was first documented in 1050. Today, the city is a hub for tourism and continues to be important industrial center. Your exploration of this historic city today offers two options; one brings you on a visit Nuremberg's Old Town, including an introductory walking tour through the Medieval fortification walls via Castle terrace to Old Town, passing by Albrecht Dürer House (guests may visit independently after the walking tour), continuing to St. Sebald Church (inside visit if available) and passing by the old City Hall before finishing at the Hauptmarkt; the other, offers a look into Nuremberg, both past and present, viewing sites such as the train terminal, the City Wall, the Opera House, The German National Museum, Courtroom 600, St. Johns Cemetary and the Imperial Castle, each option will finish with a walk through the main market square. Following your time in Nuremberg, your riverboat negotiates the Main-Danube Canal, which ultimately links the North Sea with the Black Sea – and which you'll learn all about from a local expert during your transit. The idea goes back as far as Charlemagne, but wasn't realized until this canal was completed in the 1990s; pass through 16 locks as the waterway traverses the mountains. Have dinner aboard the riverboat this evening.

   
   Meals: Breakfast
9. Day 9
   Regensburg, Germany

   Mon, Sep 16, 2024

   With its roots as a Roman encampment on the Danube, the quintessential Bavarian town of Regensburg is home to more than 1,400 original historic buildings. Walking here is a delight and is the only way to view the sights up-close. A local guide will lead the way as you see the town's 12th-century Steinerne Brücke (Germany's oldest surviving stone bridge), the 15th-century Altes Rathaus (Town Hall), the towering Dom St. Peter, and the remains of the Roman wall. Visit the princely house of Thurn und Taxis on a guided tour, followed by free time. Enjoy an onboard musical performance by a local quartet before your ship sets off for Passau.

   
   Meals: Breakfast
10. Day 10
    Passau, Germany

    Tue, Sep 17, 2024

    The riverboat docks in the port city of Passau, dating way back to Roman times. Today, you have the choice of a walking tour revealing the Baroque treasures of this lovely riverside town, known for its stained glass and its many churches – including St. Stephan's Cathedral, home to the largest pipe organ outside of the U.S., and the biggest cathedral organ in the world (inside cathedral visit may not be available on all departures); a cycling excursion around Passau, suitable for more experienced riders; or a full-day excursion to the lovely Austrian city of Salzburg, birthplace of W.A. Mozart (and setting of The Sound of Music). Back aboard the riverboat this afternoon and evening, listen to commentary from your Tauck Director as you continue your cruise, bound for Melk, Austria. Tonight, enjoy a musical performance by a classical trio.

    
    Meals: Breakfast
11. Day 11
    Melk, Austria

    Wed, Sep 18, 2024

    Your next destination is the town of Melk, Austria, where you'll step back in time on a guided tour of its 900-year-old Benedictine Abbey, perched on a rocky outcrop above the river. Inside this Baroque masterpiece are fine frescoes, early manuscripts, and a high altar. Back aboard the riverboat, enjoy views of castles, vineyards, small towns, monasteries and medieval ruins while cruising through the Wachau Valley toward the magnificent Austrian capital city of Vienna. Tonight, a Tauck Exclusive – a private, gala evening in the beautiful Baroque Palais Pallavicini in the heart of the city, featuring a sumptuous dinner and live entertainment – just might sweep you off your feet! Please Note: To preserve your sightseeing experience in Vienna and maximize our time there, we may rotate our evening activities on Days 11 and 12 on some departures.

    
    Meals: Breakfast
12. Day 12
    Vienna, Austria

    Thu, Sep 19, 2024

    Get an overview of Vienna, Austria's capital and one of Europe's greatest cities, with a morning sightseeing tour of this historic former capital of the Habsburg Empire. Take your choice of a tour of Schönbrunn Palace, the Habsburgs' vast "summer residence" built to rival Versailles, or a guided visit to the Sisi Museum and the amazing Imperial Apartments inside the Hofburg, the Habsburg family's former royal palace that today is the official residence of Austria's president. Explore the city as you wish this afternoon, or return to the riverboat; dinner is aboard ship tonight. Please Note: To preserve your sightseeing experience in Vienna and maximize our time there, we may rotate our evening activities on Days 11 and 12 on some departures.

    
    Meals: Breakfast
13. Day 13
    Bratislava, Slovakia

    Fri, Sep 20, 2024

    Depart Vienna after breakfast, and spend the morning cruising to Slovakia. Arrive early afternoon in Bratislava, capital of Slovakia, where 17 centuries of history are chronicled on a walking tour led by a local guide. Highlights include Baroque palaces from the Habsburg era, St. Martin's Cathedral and more, and a visit to Old Town Hall. This evening, enjoy dinner aboard the riverboat followed by onboard Slovakian entertainment by local performers in the lounge; set off for Budapest tonight.

    
    Meals: Breakfast
14. Day 14
    Budapest, Hungary

    Sat, Sep 21, 2024

    Tauck's memorable Amsterdam to Budapest river cruise arrives at your final destination – Budapest, Hungary's remarkable capital. Standing on opposite banks of the Danube, Budapest's two distinct sections – Buda and Pest – were once independent cities. Discover both on a day of sightseeing that includes views of patriotic Heroes' Square in Pest, dominated by statues of great leaders from Hungarian history; the Gothic-Revival Parliament building, an iconic feature of the Budapest skyline along the Danube; and Fisherman's Bastion, standing watch like a sentinel over the river. Spend the afternoon exploring on your own. Join us for our farewell reception and dinner tonight onboard ship.

    
    Meals: Breakfast
15. Day 15
    Budapest, Hungary

    Sun, Sep 22, 2024

    Tour ends: Budapest. Disembark in Budapest; a transfer is included from the riverboat to Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport and Budapest Keleti Railway Station. Allow 3 hours for departure flight check-in.

    
    Meals: Breakfast

Inclusions

Cruise along the River Danube from Budapest to Amsterdam on an amazing journey past grand cathedrals, medieval monasteries, castles and vineyards...Pass through five countries including the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary, and explore legendary cities such as Amsterdam, Vienna, Köln, Nürnberg, Bratislava and Budapest. Tauck's all-included private shore excursions take you to many UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the historic districts of Budapest, Vienna, and Bamberg, and the Wachau and Rhine valleys. In Vienna, take your choice of visits to Schönbrunn Palace or the Sisi Museum at the Hofburg, and attend a grand Imperial Evening in a traditional palace. In Amsterdam, tour the famed Rijksmuseum. Visit Köln Cathedral, Melk Abbey, medieval towns like Regensburg, Budapest's Heroes' Square and much more!

• TAUCK EXCLUSIVE - A private Imperial Evening at a traditional palace in Vienna featuring a gala dinner and Viennese performers
• Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director
• All private Tauck shore excursions - $3,075 Value!
• In Amsterdam, a guided tour of the famed Rijksmuseum, home to many masterpieces
• Day exploring Nürnberg, the walled medieval town whose history is forever intertwined with World War II
• Choice of sightseeing in Vienna - a visit to the Sisi Museum and the Imperial Apartments in the Hofburg or to Schönbrunn Palace

Ship Information

Cabins

Life on Board

Questions & Answers